A 33-member Singaporean contingent is heading to Nepal to assist with disaster relief following flash floods along the Nepal-China border.
Key facts
- •The 33-member Singaporean team includes specialists in disaster victim identification and aerial surveillance.
- •Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann attended the departure of the advance team at Changi Airport.
- •Rescuers in Nepal are searching through sludge and debris at hydropower plant sites.
- •The Singapore Red Cross has raised around S$1 million to support disaster relief.
- •The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a team to provide consular assistance.
Nineteen Singapore police and forensic officers departed for Nepal on September 1 and 2 to support disaster relief efforts following flash floods along the Nepal-China border. An additional 14 officers are scheduled to join the team in the coming days, bringing the total contingent to 33 members.
By the numbers
Team composition and expertise
The contingent is led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Patrick Tan and includes 17 officers from the Singapore Police Force and two from the Health Sciences Authority’s Forensic Medicine Division. The team specializes in disaster victim identification and aerial surveillance, fulfilling a request from the Nepali government.
Ongoing disaster response
Nepali rescuers continue to search for survivors one week after the disaster, working to clear debris from hydropower plant tunnels. Official reports indicate that more than 1,100 bodies have been recovered, with nearly 4,500 people still missing.
Additional aid and support
Beyond the deployment of personnel, Singapore is providing humanitarian supplies from civilian sources and the Singapore Armed Forces. The government previously contributed US$100,000 to the Singapore Red Cross, which has raised approximately S$1 million for relief efforts. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched a response team to provide consular assistance to affected Singaporeans.
Timeline
- Last weekSingapore announced it would send disaster victim identification specialists to Nepal.
- Sep 1Second Minister Sim Ann sent off the advance team at Changi Airport.
- Sep 1 and 2The 19-member advance team departed for Nepal.
- MondayThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Singapore Red Cross had raised S$1 million.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Channel NewsAsia.
